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Saturday, November 17, 2012

The historical cycle that rings true today

A friend* trying to console me after Mr. Obama's re-election, shared a timeless quote:
"Again and again after freedom has brought opportunity and some degree of plenty, the competent become selfish, luxury-loving and complacent, the incompetent and the unfortunate grow envious and covetous, and all three groups turn aside from the hard road of freedom to worship the Golden Calf of economic security.  The historical cycle seems to be: from bondage to spiritual faith; from spiritual faith to courage; from courage to liberty; from liberty to abundance; from abundance to selfishness; from selfishness to apathy; from apathy to dependency; and from dependency back to bondage once more."
These prophetic words came from the leader of a Pennsylvania cork company during a speech he delivered on March 18, 1943.  The speech was delivered by Henning Prentis.  Mr. Prentis also wrote this:

"At the stage between apathy and dependency, men always turn in fear to economic and political panaceas." (Industrial Management in a Republic, p. 22.).  

The concept rings true today.  


*Thanks, Kevin.

Sunday, November 04, 2012

Defending Paul Ryan in the NY Times

Excerpts from my letter to the editors at the New York Times Magazine concerning a cover story on Paul Ryan in the October 21 issue which were published online November 1.  

Illustration by Jaime Hernandez
The excerpts also appear in today's print edition of the New York Times Magazine.  My apologies for the blurry, tiny font.